It is hard to do justice in a short commentary to such a force of nature who will always be our matriarch and the beautiful ribbon that has kept our family so firmly bound.
She was born on July 27, 1938 in central Saskatchewan where she grew up, met and married the love of her life Glenn Hanson. They moved to Prince George in 1956 where they raised 5 children.
She is survived by her children Randy (Joanne) Hanson, Debbie (Dave) Paulson, Janie (Martin) Vantol and Tracy (Mark) Shaw, 15 fabulous grandchildren and 23 equally fabulous great-grandchildren who were all her light and her life - as she was to all of us. She is also survived by her sister Helen Bernt. She was predeceased by Glenn in 2004, their eldest son Terry in 1980 and granddaughter Brandie in 2018.
After dad passed away she travelled with family and friends at every opportunity. She often marvelled at the amazing things her eyes beheld from New York to London and Paris and even Graceland to pay tribute to her beloved teenage idol Elvis. This travel helped to satisfy her thirst for knowledge and to better understand the world she was so keenly interested in. Her mountains of photos, books, journals and notebooks are a testament to her knowledge and research over many years and a treasure to us now.
Her love of sports and music were mainstays throughout her life. Her active life with dad included cycling, skiing, hiking, snowmobiling and motorcycles, with regular date nights enjoying live theatre and the symphony.
She knew how to bring people together with plenty of fresh baking, canning and feasts to feed the multitudes and always cooked more than enough "just in case".
Her cherished family, her dear friends and neighbours, her church and her faith were the cornerstones on which she built and lived her life. Our Saviour's Lutheran Church was always a hub of activity for her including her active quilting group. She was the most generous person and if you were ever in need or want of anything she would be the first to offer it. Make no mistake, however, if there was an injustice, that she could make right, this strong-willed Swede would do all in her power to balance the scales.
Active and so full of energy to the end made many half her age often marvel at how this tiny person could create so much power. It seemed her drive and determination were boundless and she must have had her own unique brand of batteries.
Her light will shine on through all of us as we carry her in our hearts and her boundless love will be a beacon to our family forever.
We would like to thank the emergency response team and Assman's Funeral Chapel for their compassionate and respectful care. There is no funeral by request. In lieu of flowers please kindly donate to the Canadian Diabetes Association or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or a charity of your choice.
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